GMAT

GMAT is Graduate Management Admission Test conducted by English Testing Service (ETS).

This is a perquisite test for admission to Graduate Management Schools in US.

GMAT is Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) in which each question is chosen based on whether you answer the previous question correctly.

GMAT measures the skills of student in three sections.

Test Format

Analytical Writing 60 min

Optimal rest breaks 5 min

Quantitative 37 questions 75 min

Optimal rest breaks 5 min

Verbal 41 questions - 75 min

Analytical Writing Assessment

The AWA consists of two 30 minute writing tasks - Analysis of an Issue and Analysis of an Argument.

The AWA is designed as a direct measure of your ability to think critically and to communicate your ideas. More specifically, the Analysis of an Issue task tests your ability to explore the complexities of an issue or opinion.

The Analysis of an Argument task tests your ability to formulate an appropriate and constructive critique of a specific conclusion based upon a specific line of thinking.

The graduate schools can on the basis of the Analytical Writing Essays differentiate among candidates who present otherwise similar credentials.

Quantitative Section

Test Basic math skills, understanding Math concepts and reasoning skills

Verbal questions are designed to fast how well you understand the written word. Your ability to read carefully and to think about what you read is crucial to your success in college.

Three types of questions are asked with multiple choice options:

• Reading Comprehension
• Critical Reasoning
• Sentence Completion

Scores

Total scores range from 200-800

The AWA score reported and scale of 0-6 with half point increments.

GMAT

Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a computer based entrance test for more than 5,800 business and management programs worldwide from the past six decades for being the reason that no other exam filters your management skills more than GMAT. Annually people are taking GMAT 2, 50,000 times around the world.

The GMAT exam will be administered by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC). GMAC and the global non-profit council of business schools – sets the standard. Students can attend the GMAT exam, whenever they feel they are ready to take it. Centers will be available around the world. These are designed to provide an unparalleled test-taking experience so that the students can perform their best. A passport is the mandatory to attend the test. Students cannot take the test more than five times within a year and once in any calendar month.

The registration fee for the GMAT is USD 250. If a student want to reschedule the date, time, or location of his/her test they have to pay a rescheduling fee of USD 50. There is a USD 80 refund in case of any cancelation. This should be done minimum seven days prior to your test date.

On the day of the GMAT, students can send their scores to 5 schools for free. Apart from these five, for every additional score report, the test will cost USD 28.

These scores will be valid for 5 years but Universities ideally accept scores in the last 3 years.

Most universities take the highest score. Some might even take the best scores in different sections from different Tests. As long as the scores are improving, those will be beneficial for the student.

In GMAT, the level of difficulty may increase or decrease depends upon the answer you gave for each question respectively.

The GMAT exam consists of four sections: An analytical writing assessment, integrated reasoning, the quantitative section, and the verbal section. Total time for the test is three and a half hours.

The GMAT score depends upon the following three factors:

• The number of questions answered
• Answers given for the difficulty level of the question
• Number of questions completed

There are 9 questions on the Quantitative section and 11 questions on the Verbal section. Verbal section is solely for the purpose of research by question framers and it does not contribute to the GMAT score, whether they are answered or not. But it is highly impossible to figure out which questions are experimental.

Theoretically, each of the Quantitative and the Verbal section is scored on a raw scale of 0-60 but practically the scores appear on a scale of 9-51. These scores combined to give the overall score between 200 and 800 and project your performance with respect to other test takers. This can be your measurement while applying for Universities.

GMAT is one of the important selection criteria. Other factors include leadership ability, job experience, interpersonal skills, motivation and thought process, and educational background, etc.

GMAT scores can be cancelled immediately after completing the test, if needed. As soon as the student finishes the test, the system asks whether to cancel the score or continue.

There are four modes of registration for the GMAT. They are Telephone, Fax, Postal, and Online.

TELEPHONE

• If the student wants to register through telephone International Credit Card (VISA, MasterCard, American Express) is a mandatory.

Note: You are required to call up at least 2 working days prior to your preferred test date.

• After calling, mention your choice of date, the city where you wish to take the test, the Test Centre Code, student’s Credit Card Number and Passport Number. Then the student will be given a confirmation number, location of the test centre, and date and time of the test. The student will be mailed of the same.

Note: Call GMAT Customer Service at your region, in case of If you do not receive confirmation.

POSTAL MAIL OR FAX

• Fill up the GMAT Appointment form. (You can download the GMAT bulletin from www.mba.com)

Note: In case you have applied for your passport, mention the same in the form.

• Make a Dollar Draft of the relevant amount from a Forex branch of any bank.
• Mail the GMAT Appointment Form in Bulletin to the concerned address along with a Dollar Draft

Note: You can send your form either by Registered Post or Courier.

• A confirmation letter mentioning your date and time of the test and location of the test centre will be either faxed or mailed to you.

Note: If you do not receive a confirmation, call GMAT Customer Service.

Online:

You can schedule your test online on www.mba.com. Click on “Register now for GMAT” link and follow the instructions given.

TEST

The quantitative and verbal sections of the GMAT exam are both multiple-choice and are administered in the computer-adaptive format. The level of difficulty at the start of the verbal and quantitative sections will be average. As the students answer the questions correctly, the difficulty level will increase and the level will decrease if the answers are wrong.

The quantitative section measures the ability of reasoning to solve quantitative problems. It is designed to get the test taker’s abilities out to understand and to analyze, and to decide whether the information provided is relevant or irrelevant and it is sufficient or not.

Calculators are not allowed to the centers. Test takers must do their math work out by hand using a dry erase pen and laminated graph paper which are given to them at the testing center. Knowledge in topics like algebra, arithmetic, and geometry is required to attempt the questions. There are two types of quantitative questions: problem solving and data sufficiency. Scores range from 0 to 60, although they only report scores between 11 and 51.

The verbal section of the GMAT Exam measures the student's capability to read and comprehend written material to express ideas effectively in standard written English. The question types are critical reasoning, reading comprehension, and sentence correction. Scores range from 0 to 60, although they only report scores between 11 and 51.

Reading comprehension passages can be just one or few paragraphs or several paragraphs long. These comprehensions are from subjects like history, social sciences, business-related areas, and physical sciences. This section measures the ability to understand statements in passages, the logical relationship between concepts and the significant points, and the author’s point of view.

Critical reasoning questions are intended to test the reasoning skills involved in argument construction and arguments evaluation.

In the Sentence Correction section, questions were asked to determine if there is a mistake with a given sentence and if so, rewrite the sentence.

Integrated reasoning

Integrated Reasoning (IR) is designed to measure a test taker’s ability to evaluate data presented in multiple formats from multiple sources. The integrated reasoning section consists of 12 questions in four different formats: two-part analysis, graphics interpretation, multi-source reasoning, and table analysis. Integrated reasoning scores range from 1-8. Like the Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA), this section is scored separately from the quantitative and verbal section. Performance on the IR and AWA sections does not contribute to the total GMAT score.

In the table analysis section, students are supposed to analyze a sortable spreadsheet and answer the following true or false questions. In the Graphics interpretation section, test takers have to interpret a graph or graphical image by selecting the correct answer from the drop down menu. Multi-source reasoning questions are accompanied by multiple sources of information presented tab wise. Test takers need to click on the tabs and examine all the relevant information to answer. These could be in the form of multiple-choice or yes/no. Two-part analysis section has questions with two components. Possible answers are given in a tabular format with a column for each component and rows with possible options. Test takers have to choose one response per column.

Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA)

The Analytical Writing Assessment consists of a 30-minute writing task, which is either an argument or an analysis. It is important to be able to analyze the reasoning behind a given argument and write a critique of that argument. Two independent ratings will be given for the essay and these ratings are averaged together to determine the test taker's AWA score. Out of two ratings, Computer will give one rating and GMAC will give another rating. The automated essay-scoring engine evaluates more than 50 linguistic and structural features, including syntactic variety, organization of ideas, and topical analysis. If the difference between two ratings is more than one point, an expert reader will evaluate it and resolve the discrepancy.

The analytical writing assessment is graded on a scale of 1 to 6 in half-point intervals.

A deficient essay will be given a score of 1, A flawed essay will get 2, A limited essay will get 3, An adequate essay will be 4, and 5 and 6 will be given for those essays which are strong and outstanding respectively.

The total GMAT score depends on the quantitative and verbal sections together and ranges from 200 to 800. The average GMAT score is about a 540.

The score distribution resembles a bell curve with a standard deviation of approximately 100 points. This means 68% of examinees score between 400 and 600.

The score building algorithm that GMAT uses in correction is very complicated. If the test taker was not able to answer or attempted wrongly for the first question, his scores will not necessarily fall in the bottom half of the range. But if the same thing happens again and again the computer will recognize that item as anomaly.

One might not take the test more than once within 31 days, even if the scores are canceled. Official GMAT exam study materials are available on the mba.com online store and through third-party vendors.

As soon as you're definite to apply to business school, visit the official GMAT website, find the test center nearest you, and call to inquire about available test dates.

Business schools typically schedule interviews only after reviewing applications and convinced that the applicant is really serious about the admission. In general, chances are better for a candidate who is confident and highly focused in person to get an admission into business school than a candidate who is strong on paper, but arrogant or otherwise awkward in the interview.

According to the Graduate Management Admission Council, more than 1,500 universities in 82 countries use the GMAT as part of the selection criteria.

The GMAT requires a lot of preparation and careful planning.

Tips to improve your GMAT score:

• Most students take three to six months for the preparation of the exam.
• In this time get the knowledge about the test format and content. Because analytical writing section presents excerpts of business writing and asks you to evaluate how well reasoned they are.
• Try to register as soon as you decided to write, as the tests fill up very quickly.
• The quantitative and verbal sections of the test are designed and delivered in computer-adaptive format. It means as you keep answering the questions correctly, the computer keep giving you more difficult questions. At the same time, if you answer incorrectly, your next question will be easier.
• Answer carefully to the initial questions in each section to increase your chances of getting into a high-scoring category for that section.

Following these essential strategies will help maximize your score:

• Go through the GMAT study guide that includes plenty of sample tests.
• Speed up yourself can make you complete each test section within the allotted time. Timed practice tests also help you to do this.
• Start guessing only after you have eliminated one or two wrong answers. Quarter of a point will be deducted for each incorrect response and the computer does not allow you to return to unanswered questions. Integrated Reasoning will measure your ability in evaluating information presented in new formats and derived from multiple sources.
• Sources: mba.com, gmac.com
• A study by the U.S. Census Bureau reports that workers with a graduate-level degree earn 50 percent more than workers with an undergraduate degree and twice as much as workers with a high school diploma.
• The next step is to figure out how to finance your education. Financial aid is available in the form of loans, grants or scholarships for students wanting to attend business school.
• The federal government has standardized high rate of interest that lenders can charge on federally guaranteed student loans, so college loans have lower interest rates than other kinds of loans. This helps students to pay the money back and encourage more people to attend school.
• Also, assistance is provided for borrowers who are having difficulty to repay their education loans in the form of deferment and forbearance.

Stafford Loan

Stafford loan is the most common federal student loan. Stafford Loans include both the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program and the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program. Depending on the student's economic strength, these loans can be subsidized or unsubsidized. However, these loans are diffused directly to the students.

Private Loan

Private loans are another common type of student loan. These loans offer higher limits and no payments until graduation, but interest starts to accrue immediately upon loan distribution. Both students and parents are allowed to take private student loans, which are a better alternative than credit card debt.

For private loans, you need to fill federal forms, such as the FAFSA. Qualifying criteria often depends on you or your parents' credit score. Having a credit score more than 650 will better your chances of being approved for a private loan.

PLUS Loan

PLUS Loans are intended and designed for parents. Students must be enrolled as dependant at least half time in an undergraduate program in order for your parents to qualify for this type of loan.

A good credit score is mandatory for a PLUS Loan, and there is a yearly limit. This equals to your school costs. There will also be a small fee that your parents are required to pay (which is usually less than four percent of the loan).

Now, graduate and professional degree students are also eligible to lend under the PLUS Loan program referred as the Grad PLUS Loan program.

For more information about loans, visit these financial aid resources:

• Student loan information and opportunities
• FAFSA application and information
• PLUS Loan information
• Stafford Loan information
• BUSINESS SCHOOL GRANTS
• Grad PLUS Loan information

Grants are one of the finest ways to sponsor a business education, for the reason that they offer money that need not to be repaid.

There are over a thousand federal grant programs in the U.S.—worth over $400 billion and securing a student grant can help you save hundreds or even thousands of dollars. When a student completes a FAFSA (Free Applicant for Federal Student Aid), business schools often consider students automatically for grants.

Note: MBA and other graduate-level business students are not eligible for any broad-based federal grants. Federal grants are only awarded to undergraduate students.

For more information, visit these financial aid resources:

• Federal student aid grant information
• FAFSA application and information
• BUSINESS SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS
• Federal student aid on the web

Though Scholarships also play a crucial role in financial assistance, there is a tough competition for them.

Though, some scholarships apply to general education, many of them usually require a certain grade point or qualification, such as active involvement in a group or in an organization.

Qualified individuals may get funds from professional associations, private and public schools, religious organizations, small businesses, and community groups, in their respective industries, so on a overall basis it’s a good place to search for scholarships.

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR WOMEN AND MINORITIES

To promote women and minority education to pursue business careers, there are many business scholarships specifically geared toward these two groups.

WORK-STUDY PROGRAMS

Students can finance their education by working in community related jobs, on-campus jobs, or teacher assistant jobs. Typically, factors such as level of financial need and school funding availability influence work-study programs. Generally, students choose work-study programs that are related to their field of study. This will be helpful for them to finance their education and also gives them experience to put on a résumé.

One can specify whether to be considered or not for work-study assistance while filling their FAFSA form.

Financial Document-Bank Statement

To Whomsoever It May Concern

This is to certify that Mr. XXXXX S/o Mr. XXXXXX is a reliable customer of our bank. He is maintaining a savings/checking account with our bank bearing No.---------.The present credit in his account as on today is Rs. xx,xx,xxx (Rupees xxxxxxxx in words) which is approximately equivalent to US $ xx,xxx (US Dollar xxxxxx in words) @ Rs.52.00 per US Dollar. He is regular customer holding the account since, Month & Year.

This certificate is issued on the request of the customer for his Son’s/Daughter’s higher studies at USA.

What next?

• Once the application part is over you can go to the next step of checking the status of your application.
• Give 8 to 10 days for the admissions department to process the application. Don’t wait too long for the call from University. At times Universities are quite busy correspond you. Please send status emails from your side.
• There are two ways to verify the status of the application. Most of the universities provide the facility to check the status of the application online.
• For some universities you will have to mail to the admissions department or call the International graduate admissions office for status update. Never write lengthy mails and always make sure the pitch is friendly in nature.

The process

• First, University will acknowledge that it has received Application packet of the student.
• Initial Processing will kick off. The communication part with University will commence. Students will do the Online Status check and in case if didn’t get any they start the follow-up.
• Students will receive GRE & TOEFL Scores from ETS and do initial Evaluation.
• Application file is forwarded from admissions office to concerned Department (only when student meets all score requirements).
• In Departmental Review they will mainly look at Resume, Academic scores, and Statement of Purpose.
• Decision Made and notified to students.

Missing Documents

• FAX the form to admissions department or mail the soft copy to University or post the missing documents.

Way to approach for an assistantship:

• Mail all the professors in the department about your research interests and also send them a well-drafted resume that can mirrors your achievements and interests. This will indicate them that you are looking for an assistantship under their guidance.

Annual Total Expense:

• (Tuition Fee + Living)
• Liquid Source
• (Savings + Education Loan)
• Annual Income
• Property / Fixed Assets
• $ 25,000 INR 25L 6L 60L
• 30,000 30L 7/8 L 60L
• 40,000 35/40L 10L 80L +
• 40,000 + 40L + 10L + 90L +
• Education Loan Bank Balance Other Savings
• (Mutual, GPF, Postal Etc)
• 15 L + Education Loan 8-10 L 3-4 L
• 10 L + 10 L 5 L
• 5/ 6 L 15 L 6/7 L
• NO Loan
• 10-12 L Bank Balance +
• 8-10 L Fixed Deposit
• 7/8 L
• Financial Checklist
• Savings
• Bank Balance Certificate issued by Bank Manager
• (Higher Bank Balance –Require Passbook / Transactions for
• Past 3-6 Months)
• Fixed Deposits / RD’s Original Certificate or Attested copies
• Provident Fund GPF Account Statement or Certificate issued by Higher
• Officials
• Not- Movable /Secondary
• Sources, Always bank
• Balance FD preferred
• Postal / Mutual Funds Original Certificate or Attested copies
• Shares DMAT Account Summary, Attested
• GOLD Bank Certificate or Jewelry Store Certificate
• LIC Surrender Value certificate
• Chit FUNDS Passbook or Certificate issued by Chit Company
• Savings from Additional Sponsor
• Loan
• Education Loan Sanction Letter issued by Manager of Nationalized Bank
• Income
• Employees Salary Certificate
• Form 16
• Pay Slip or Certificate issued by higher officials
• Business/ IT Returns Form 2 D
• Proof of Business: Balance Sheets or
• Business License or Client Check Copies
• Rental Income Rental Agreement (Notarized Affidavit) on Rs. 20/50 Bond Paper
• Secondary Agricultural Income MRO/VAO Certificate
• Passbooks
• Income from Additional Sponsor
• Total Property
• Property Papers House, Apartments, Plots of Land papers (Copies)
• Evaluation Reports
• Agricultural Papers MRO Certificate